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Saturday, 2 February 2013

Forget the Ikea Monkey. How about the Veracruz Lion?

Pérez Moreno: the trainer or the clown?

A lioness, owned by a local deputy in the state of Veracruz,
Mexico, escaped yesterday in the vicinity of Xalapa, the state capital, which
generated a large mobilization of local police and auxiliaries.

After looking for the animal throughout the afternoon, she
was found in a warehouse, whereupon Roberto Pérez Moreno “Juanelo”, a state legislator with the ruling PRI party, arrived and announced that he would take
care of her.

The incident occurred around 14:00 pm yesterday in the
community of El Grande in municipality of Coatepec, on the outskirts of the
capital. The state of Veracruz lines the Gulf of Mexico, but the Xalapa area is inland and at an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet (1500 meters).

The Secretary of Public Safety (Secretaría de Seguridad
Pública) as well as municipal police scurried to warn people to stay indoors
with their doors and windows closed.

It wasn’t until 17:00 that the Ministry of Civil Defence (Secretaría
de Protección Civil) announced that the big cat had had been located near a
winery in the community El Grande. This is when the politician arrived and
said he would “take care of the situation”.

The animal had escaped from the legislator's residence in Coatepec. Pérez,
who is aiming to be mayor of Ocotepec, thanked the local authorities for their
help. There is no word of any charges being laid against him for endangering
public safety.

But he hasn’t been treated too kindly on social media.
Facebook users have shared pictures of Pérez’s mistreatment of bulls during
public festivals, and suggested that perhaps he should prove his bravery by
taking a turn in the ring with his “pet”.

One anonymous user wrote: "In case anyone doubted that
the legislature is a fucking circus, now we know who the trainer is."

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